Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

Album Reviews

Album Review: Deiquisitor – Apotheosis

Danish death vendors DEIQUISITOR have been at it for a decade now, generating reliable, convoluted albums and EPs, Apotheosis being the fourth of the former. With the self-titled debut of 2016 (drool and gnash your teeth at ‘Elongated Crystal Skull’ for reference), it seemed there was something just strange enough about the trio’s take on death metal to bear keeping an eye on, and thus far no disappointments. Jointly released by Extremely Rotten Productions and Night Shroud Records, Apotheosis takes aim with ‘Humanoid’, a distended, twisting riff straight out of Stockholm circa 1989 hits its mark, drummer Henrik B.C. seemingly […]

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Úlfúð Debut Of Existential Distortion Coming via Dark Descent Records

Bred in the land of ice and fire, Úlfúð are the latest addition to Dark Descent’s flawless, ever-diversifying roster. Championing their personal blend of black and death metal (with emphasis on the former), the band’s debut album Of Existential Distortion uniquely captures the desolate vastness of the volcanic wastelands like only Icelanders can. Úlfúð’s first full-length is a masterclass in songcraft, showcasing a stunning balance of entrancing atmosphere, haunting melody, and deathless violence. Artist Bahrull Marta was summoned to conjure the breathtaking artwork, whilst photographs by Alma Líf Þorsteinsdóttir adorn the inlay with visions of each offering. “We are extremely […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Ahab – The Coral Tombs

After an 8 year layoff, AHAB rises again from the briny deep, this time to celebrate Jules Verne’s undersea classic 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. AHAB has always been a unique band, practicing what they call “nautik doom”. Their slow motion mix of crushing heaviness and melancholy melody really does seem oceanic. It seems calm and languorous even in the heavy moments and reminds you of one of the ocean’s leviathans gliding majestically through black and gloomy waters. Alas, The Coral Tombs seems to me to be a little bit too relaxing this time around. There’s a lot more emphasis […]

Music News

NECROPANTHER: Colorado Blackened Death/Thrash Outfit To Release Betrayal Full-Length; New Track Streaming + Preorders Available

Colorado-based death/thrash outfit NECROPANTHER will release their long-awaited fourth full-length, Betrayal, on March 3rd, unveiling the record’s artwork, track listing, and first single. The metal genre-manipulating band from Denver has always crafted their full-length releases around cult sci-fi/dystopian future cinema. Betrayal intertwines the movie The Warriors with the Greek story of Anabasis by Xenophon (on which The Warriors is based). The eleven-track album features the rigorous musicianship and energetic riffs that NECROPANTHER fans have come to expect, with the addition of experimental executions and techniques that put the band in fresh territory. “These are areas we’ve never explored before, like […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Satanic Warmaster – Aamongandr

Since 2005 (and a few albums deep into its recorded history already), Finland’s SATANIC WARMASTER has been bathed in the blood of the sole and ridiculously prolific Werwolf, for better or worse. Guest musicians involved or not, SW’s failures and triumphs rest and resound in one man. With a discography as varied and plentiful as this, it’s unwise to assume everything measures up to the quality of the best or should be down to the level of the triteness of the worst. Aamongandr is SATANIC WARMASTER’s first full-length in 8 years, though, so one hopes Werwolf and the chosen session […]

Music News

DREAMS OF GRAY Release The World After EP

Chicago-based, one-man melodic death/doom band DREAMS OF GRAY has released its debut EP, The World After. Featuring three epic tracks, the EP seamlessly blends elements of melodic thrash, death, doom, and traditional heavy metal. Download The World After at Bandcamp The EP is also streaming on Spotify The World After Track List: Performance V Justice Life In Gray The World After DREAMS OF GRAY is Luis Rivera (Vocals/Guitars). The band was formed almost by accident, as Rivera was piecing together ideas while unable to actively perform and record music. When Rivera was ready to record in 2022, he enlisted the […]

Album Reviews

Album Review – Mycelium – Mycoticism: Disseminating The Propagules

Scotland’s NECRONOCLAST cranked out some pretty interesting black metal in the mid-late ‘00s and it seemed as if with its final album, Ashes, and a split with the mighty DODSFERD, sole member Greg Edwards might be ready to take the next step forward. There was always something a little quirky and uncommon about the lyrical content of NECRONOCLAST, but no one saw MYCELIUM coming ten years later, I’d wager. Elements of let’s call it “fungal horror” are found in death metal’s beginnings, but have recently taken hold as roots, strangling and choking. That’s a little of what’s happening within Mycoticism: […]

Music News

U.S. Heavy Metal Trio MORTALUS Releasing ‘We Are Human’ on February 24

Little Rock (AR) – Heavy Metal trio MORTALUS will release sophomore album We Are Human on February 24. The official video for the album’s first single, ‘Intended Victims’ is available HERE MORTALUS is equal parts classic and modern, heavy and melodic, power and finesse, focused and loose. We Are Human is a showcase of all parts. It has been a whirlwind since the last album was released. Impactful events such as a global pandemic, political and worldwide turmoil, addiction, inequality and prejudice, losing family members, decayed friendships, and re-evaluation of one’s own perspective all went into the making of We […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Rudra – Eight Mahavidyas

Why is this Singapore band not signed to a major metal label? It’s not only a mystery, it’s tantamount to a crime, because these masters of Vedic Metal, who have been active since 1992, have got to be one of the best extreme metal bands from Asia. Their new album, Eight Mahavidyas, sees them continuing to evolve even as they remain true to the basics of their craft. RUDRA has always been deeply entwined with Hindu myths and philosophy. On this album, they examine eight female characters from the past who have fought against evil and ignorance. A lyrical subject […]

Music News

WITCHROT Announce New Album, Live In The Hammer

Sizzling, soulful and bewitching, WITCHROT is gearing up for their latest offering, Live In The Hammer, due out for its international release March 10, 2023. All sleaze and psych, Live In The Hammer has the fuzz fueled quartet playing in the grease trap of Ontario. Smoky vocals overtop mesmeric psychedelic doom fill the room to the brim. Pre-orders for Live In The Hammer are available HERE Stream ‘Burn Me Down’ Formed in Toronto in 2018, WITCHROT was founded by Lea Reto (vocals) & Peter Turik (Guitar). After some international press over band disputes, betrayals, and a temporary break up, the […]

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